I'm with Beth. The stresses of a recording artist are huge. Can you Imagine trying to learn, record, Market, perform, a new album? The process can be very stressful when it's not on your own terms (although when it IS on your own terms it can be brilliant fun). Most bands and singers etc hate touring. Can you imagine sleeping on a bus for 5 months? Waking up somewhere new and singing the same songs day after day? With each gig people expecting your best performance? If you don't perform well enough at one show your label won't be happy and you'll lose thousands of album sales. If the album doesn't sell well enough you'll owe your label thousands (whatever your advance was minus the minuscule amount you've earnt from record sales.
Not just anyone can take the pressure involved. Not just anyone can take the risk of owing thousands (or sometimes more) to their label.